Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1887-04-09
A DUEL ON SKATES
@CowardP
II III

4CoWardI'
-Liarl"
The words we're uttered ooolly. almost
I dispassionately, but there was a world OF
meaning in the tones Of the speakers
1t was IN a small village in one OF or
I Northern States. Two men, young, but of
/ very different exterior, scOWled 6ercely at
: each other over the green table Of q gam
] ing establishment.
| Matt AIcGi1 was a true frontiersman,
and, though scarcely tWenty-one, he had
I the reputation Of being as cool and daring
a scout as ever followed a trail. There
was not an atom OF fear in his keen blue
! eyes as he looked sternly across the table
I into those OF Alabama Abe, the gambler,
[ despite the fact that a heavy pistol in the
/ hands Of the latter was leveled at his
breast. For a moment they stood thus,
| each dehantly regarding the other Ala
/ bama Abe was the first to break the silence.
I His mOcking voice echoed down the nearly
| empty room and caused a thrill to run
| through the hearts Of the group Of specta-
( tors anxiously awaiting the outcome Of the
| quarrel.
"Ahl have the drop on you, Matt Nc
| Gill" he cried exultantly, while his lips
| parted in a triumphant SMILE
eFOr the present, yes. 1t viii not always
| be soi"" and the steely glance OF the scout
/ seemed TO pierce to the gamblers heart.
nor You are too sanguine5 my border
friend. What reason can you give why
should not shoot you dead where you
stand?"
"A very potent ons-honor. Rascal as
you are, Alabama Abe, you viii not COM
NIT downright murder, though capable OF
one, no Doubt"
The gambler lowered the weapon.
You are right, he said. @If I Kill You
it viii be on the field Of honor. But, re-
member. we meet againl"
AT your pleasure. And when that time
arrives you, and not I, VIII bite the dust.
AS he spoke the young bOrderer moved
toward the door. Alabama Abe followed
and the two passed out into the Wintry air,
leaving their companions to speculate as to
the outcome Of the quarrel.
The cause was a woman, Of course.
Both loved and woOed Marie FOntaine, q
dark-eyed Canadian girl, and each with APP
| parently the same degree Of success. Ri
walls from the first, the breach had rapidly
widened into intense hatred, and had led at
| last into the formal declaration of hOsti-
/ ties recorded above. Now, nothing but an
"atfair Of honor" could be the result. and
the contest bade fair to be a desperate
one.
McGiIl, as the challenged party, had the
choice of weapons, and soon the affair was
satisfactorily arranged. The meeting was
to take place on the surface Of a little lake
near at hand, and the weapons were to be
Colts reyOlvers. Each party was to skate
rapidly toward his opponent, and fire as
they passed, until one or both were dis
abled.
McGilis second hoped by this singular
arrangement to take advantage of the
Southern gambler, little knowing that Ala
bama Abe mad lived in the North long
enough to learn the art Of skating almost to
perfection; therefore considerable surprise
was created among the thrOng OF spectators
gathered upon the lake shore, on the
D eH a. a.N
come skimming over the ice like a bird. He
came up to the crowd with long, swinging
strides, and found his rival already at
hand.
Are you ready?" he asked.
"Quite ready!" was MoGnPs cool an
sWer.
The distance was quickly measured of
and marked by posts set firmly in the ice.
The men took their respective positions,
and waited for the fatefuI signal
It was soon given by a pistol shot, fired
by one Of the seconds. The antagonists
darted forward like rockets. AS they
passed, two sharp reports broke the silence.
and the crowd saw AIeGill's right arm drop
Imply to his side. while e thin stream of
blood trickled down the sleeve Of his jacket.
He quickly changed his revolver TO his left
hand and turned upon his enemy, who
was again advancing. Rapidly they dashed
forward, the silence only broken by the
ringing DL L4ELE 6AalG8a 44GN tLG16u
about each other for moment firing rap
idly
The crowd, which numbered the entire
population Of the village, were eagerly
watching the sanguinary contest. Who
viii be the victor? was the unexpressed
thought Of each mind.
1t was soon decided. Gradually narrow
ing the circles, until the muZzles of their
Colts naVles almost touched, the men
emptied chamber after chamber of their
weapons with deadly results. Matt Nc
GilIs fringed buckskin and Alabama Abes
gay Mexican costume were covered with
CORY stains. Still, with flashing eyes, they
sped onward in the maddening whirl, each
heart burning with revenge, and neither
yielding.
Alabama Abe had dropped his empty re-
Volver and drawn a long bowie, whose
bright blade cleaned In the sunlight. But
he was destined never to use it, for as the
echo Of McGilPs last shot died on the air
the gambler fell PROSTATE upon the ice, and
the exhausted scout dropped back into the
arms Of his second.
The crowd thronged forward. Tie scouts
last bullet had indeed gone home, and Ala
bama Abe lay limp in death. All this and
more Matt McGiu saw, for q woman with
disheveied hair and pallid face was bend
ing over the dead gambler, kissing the pale
features, cruel in their outlines even IN
death, and shOwering endearing words upon
the iteless form. 1t was Marie, the Cana
dian girl.
The scouts face grew ashy pale at the
sight A stern resolve glanced in his eye,
and, breaking from the grasp of his friends,
he dashed swiftly and silently away over
the ice. Fifty rods down the lake a patch
Of open water danced in the winter wind
between its icy letters. In a moment he
had reached it For an instant they saw
him pause on the verge Of the air-hOle, tie
fragile ice breaking beneath his feet. Then
he disappeared, and Matt AcGiu. the
zcout. W. never seen aa-ain-